Ignition device for internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

An air pollution control device for use in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine for applying a nonigniting electrical potential to nonfiring cylinders of the engine responsive to current flow to the firing cylinder including an assembly having a spark plug lead coupler connectible into each spark plug lead socket of the distributor head and engageable by the spark plug lead for that particular socket, each coupler having a conductor engageable at a lower end in the distributor head socket and contacted at the upper end by the spark plug wire. A conductive sleeve is secured in spaced electrically insulated relation around the conductor through the coupler, the sleeves in the several couplers of the device being electrically interconnected in series whereby a potential induced in a sleeve by electrical flow through the conductor within such sleeve induces a similar potential in the sleeves of the other couplers inducing a potential in the conductors through such other couplers effecting a nonigniting potential at the plugs of the nonfiring cylinders.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Eugene Irvin,Jr.

6635 Lakewood Blvd., Dallas, Tex. 75214; Edwin A. Carrell, 1608 WestlakeDrive, Plano, Tex. 75074 [21] Appl. No. 21,782 [22] Filed Mar. 23, 1970[45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [54] IGNITION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl ..l23/146.5 A, 123/148 A,123/148 AC, 123/148 DC [51] Int. Cl F02p 9/00 [50] Field of Search123/119 E, 146.5,146.5 A, 148 AC, 148 DC, 148 E [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,451,482 10/1948 Flint 123/146.5 A 2,351,6826/1944 Hendry et a1. 123/148 AC 2,968,296 l/1961 Kaehni 123/148 E3,500,801 3/1970 Long et al 123/146.5

Primary Examiner-Laurence M. Goodridge Att0rneyH. Mathews GarlandABSTRACT: An air pollution control device for use in the ignition systemof an internal combustion engine for applying a nonigniting electricalpotential to nonfiring cylinders of the engine responsive to currentflow to the firing cylinder including an assembly having a spark pluglead coupler connectible into each spark plug lead socket of thedistributor head and engageable by the spark plug lead for thatparticular socket, each coupler having a conductor engageable at a lowerend in the distributor head socket and contacted at the upper end by thespark plug wire. A conductive sleeve is secured in spaced electricallyinsulated relation around the conductor through the coupler, the sleevesin the several couplers of the device being electrically interconnectedin series whereby a potential induced in a sleeve by electrical flowthrough the conductor within such sleeve induces a similar potential inthe sleeves of the other couplers inducing a potential in the conductorsthrough such other couplers effecting a nonigniting potential at theplugs of the nonfiring cylinders.

PATENTEUncT 19 I97! I INVENTORS Eugene Irvin, Jr.

ATTORNEY BY Edwin A.Carrell \-A\W Q M /v52. .w i w w r Ill!!! IGNITIONDEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE This invention relates to a devicefor improving the combustion characteristics of an internal combustionengine and more specifically relates to an ignition device forelectrically enhancing the combustion process of an internal combustionengine.

In recent years air pollution problems, particularly in metropolitanareas of the world, have become monumental and are increasing at suchalarming rates that possibly survival of life as currently known onearth is contingent on determining the principal sources ofsuchpollution and finding ways of minimizing if not eliminating it. It isunquestioned that one source, and perhaps the major one, of such airpollution is the present internal combustion engine used in automobiles,busses, aircraft, and any other forms of mobil and stationary apparatus.One of the reasons for the production of pollutants by the internalcombustion engine is the inefficiency of the combustion process in theengine resulting in the discharge of many unburned or partially burnedproducts which, for the most part, are gaseous in form so that theyladen the air with impurities. Numerous approaches are being taken tominimize the polluting materials being discharged from engines includingchanging the contents of the fuels being burned, often requiring engineredesign, and in the instance of the present invention, improving thecombustion process through the mechanism of the conventional ignitionsystem in present forms of engines.

It has been found that nonigniting electrical condition can be createdin each of the nonfiring cylinders of an engine responsive to the flowof current to the firing cylinder improving conditions for combustion inthe nonfiring cylinders. The flow of current to each of the firingcylinders is utilized to inductively create a potential providing afield in each of the nonfiring cylinders which effects conditions insuch cylinders for improved combustion. Several approaches have beenmade to utilize the particular electrical concept applicable, but ineach instance they have fallen somewhat short of achieving the desiredend result and in particular have not been commercially desirable asthey interfered with or altered existing structure of the ignitionsystem of an engine and/or required somewhat more than ordinary skillfor installation.

It is, therefore, a particularly important object of the invention toprovide a new and improved ignition device for an internal combustionengine which reduces air pollution by minimizing the discharge ofair-contaminating materials from the cylinders of the engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improvedignition device which may be installed by an unskilled person withoutalternation of the existing structure of the ignition system of theengine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improvedignition device for an internal combustion engine which creates a morehomogeneous mixture of air and fuel to provide a smoother burningmixture in each cylinder of the engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improvedignition device which breaks down solid deposits on the piston andcylinder surfaces exposed to the combustion process.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich improves the power output of an engine and thus in an automobilethe gas mileage is extended by increasing the efficiency of thecombustion process.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich increases the acceleration of an engine.

It is a further object of the. invention to provide an ignition devicewhich reduces oil contamination of an engine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewherein the atmosphere in each cylinder is ionized thereby lowering thevoltage required to provide an igniting spark across the gap of eachspark plug of the engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich includes no moving parts and thus is not subject to wear.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an ignitiondevice which is not affected by humidity, various forms of contaminationto which an engine is normally subjected, or other conditions normallydetrimental to proper performance of spark plugs and other components ofan ignition system.

It is a further object of the invention to improve the life of variouscomponents of an ignition system including the battery by reducing thevoltage necessary to operate the system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich may be readily manufactured to fit any desired number of cylindersof an internal combustion engine.

It is further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich may be installed withoutthe use of tools or particular technicalknowledge of the structure of the ignition system of the engine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich is simply connected in between the normal spark plug leads and thedistributor head of an ignition system whereby the device is energizedby current flowing to each of the spark plugs of an engine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition device ofthe character described which does not necessitate penetration or otheralteration of the insulation on the various current leads of theexisting ignition system in which it is installed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ignition devicewhich improves the idle speed of an engine.

These and further objects of the invention will be apparent from readingthe following description of an ignition device embodying the inventiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective of an ignition device embodying theinvention positioned for coupling the spark plug leads of an engine tothe distributor;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the couplers of theignition device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section showing one of thecouplers connected between a socket on the distributor and a spark pluglead; and

FIG. 4 is a view in section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

In accordance with the invention, the current flowing to each firingcylinder is utilized to inductively create an electrical condition inthe leads to and in the nonfiring cylinders which electrical conditionis nonigniting and creates a cylinder atmosphere more favorable to ahighly efficient combustion process. The exact phenomenon of whichoccurs to enhance the cylinder atmosphere is not known, though it isbelieved to be in part a corona effect induced by the voltage at thesparking gap of the nonfiring plugs communicated from the lead in whichthe current is flowing to the firing cylinder.

Referring to FIG. I of the drawings, an ignition device I0 embodying theinvention for use with a four cylinder engine includes four identicalcouplers 11 which are electrically interconnected in series by aconductor 12. The couplers II are each connectable with one of fouridentical spark plug lead sockets 13 on the head of a distributor 14.The distributor is of suitable conventional design serving to distributeelectrical current to the several spark plugs of the engine in the usualtimed sequence. The distributor has a central electrical socket 15engageable by a lead 20 having a male member 21 insertable into thesocket 15 for electrically coupling the distributor to the ignitioncoil, not shown, of the engine ignition system. Theignition device 10electrically couples four identical spark plug leads 22 to the fourspark plugs, not shown, in the four cylinders of the engine. The sparkplug leads each have a male connector 23 engageable in the head of oneof the couplers I l.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, each of the couplers II has an integral tubularbody mandrel 30 including a slightly tapered enlarged head portion 31, areduced tubular central portion 32, and a still further reduced tubularlower end portion 33. The head portion 31 has a blind bore defining areceiver 34. The upper end 35 of the mandrel 30 is somewhat rounded toprovide a pleasing appearance and smooth surface for handling andinstallation of the coupler. The size reduction of the central bodyportion 32 provides downwardly facing stop shoulder 40 on the bottom ofthe head of the body. A locking flange or lip 41 is provided around thelower end of the body portion 32. The lower end portion 33 of the bodyis reduced below the lip 41. A longitudinal bore 42 extends throughoutthe length of the central and lower portions of the body opening intothe bottom of the socket 34 and opening through the lower end of thelower body portion 33. The body 30 is formed of an insulating ordielectric plastic material such as polypropylene.

An electrically conductive tube 43 is disposed through the bore 42 andbradded or flared outwardly at its upper end securing it to acylindrical conductive spark plug lead socket 44 tightly fitted in thereceiver 34 in the upper head of the body. As seen in FIG. 3, the socket44 is located at the lower end of the receiver 34 and the tube 43 isbradded at its upper end 430 through a hole defined in the center of thebottom of the socket. The lower end 43b of the tube 43 is similarlyflared outwardly or bradded against the bottom of the body portion 33 torigidly lock the tube in the coupler body. The socket 44 is sized toreceive a standard male spark plug lead connector 23 so that the sparkplug leads may be readily coupled into the upper end of the couplermerely by inserting them by hand into the socket 44. A conductive clip45 is secured along the lower end of the coupler body as bestillustrated in FIG. 3. The straight portion 450 of the clip is insertedupwardly into the bore of the tube 43 while the curved side portion 45bof the clip extends upwardly along the outside cylindrical surface ofthe body portion 33. An upper, inwardly extending hook portion 450 ofthe clip is inserted into a sidewardly opening hole 50 in the couplerlower body portion 33 to lock the clip against longitudinal movement onthe clip. The socket 44, the tube 43, and the clip 45 are all made ofelectrically conductive material which most readily discharges theparticular structural function required of the part. For example, thesocket 44 is made of aluminum, the tube 43 of brass and the clip 45 of aspring steel. The particular arrangement of the conductive components inthe body of the coupler provides ease of construction and forms a rigidstructure which is not subject to accidental disassembly and thus islong wearing.

A slightly outwardly flared skirt or boot 51 is tightly fitted on thecoupler body below the head 31 extending in spaced concentric relationover the central portion 32 and the lower portion 33 of the couplerbody. The skirt has a central portion 52 provided with a bore 53 sizedto receive the central portion 32 of the coupler body. The lockingflange 41 of the body engages the bottom face of the skirt portion 52below its bore 53 locking the body in the skirt. Epoxy glue may be usedin the skirt bore around the body. The skirt has an upper cylindricalend portion 60 having a bore 61 which is larger than the central couplerbody portion 32 defining an annular space 63 within the upper portion ofthe skirt when the skirt is assembled on the coupler body. The lowerflared portion 64 of the skirt comprising the major portion of itslength has a downwardly and outwardly flared bore 65 shaped to receivethe distributor socket 13 for connecting the coupler on the distributor.The internal surface of the lower skirt portion has spaced internalannular ribs 70 which grip the outward surface of the distributor socketon which the coupler is engaged as shown in FIG. 3.

A partial sleeve conductor 80 is disposed within the annular space 63tightly fitted on the central coupler body portion 32 andcircumferentially encompassing a major portion of the body. The sleeve80 is electrically connected with the conductor 12 as shown in FIG. 4.The insulation 12a is stripped from the conductor along the portion ofits length 12b which is disposed within the coupler annular space 63around the coupler body portion 32 in the upper skirt portion 60. Thebare conductor portion 12b is tightly confined with the annular spaceclamped between the outer surface of the sleeve 80 and the inner surfaceof the upper skirt portion 60 within its bore 61. The insulationstripped conductor portion 12b is held in sufficiently tight engagementwith the conductive sleeve that electrical contact is made between theconductor 12 and the sleeve. The conductor 12 extends from the skirtannular space on each side of the bare portion through a pair ofcircumferentially spaced semicircular slots 81 formed in and openedupwardly through the upper end of the skirt portion 60. While thepreferred form of electrical connection between the conductor 12 and thesleeve 80 is as illustrated to facilitate assembly of each coupler, itwill be recognized that the conductor 12 may be made in segments withseparate segments extending through the spaced slots 81 with aninsulation free end portion .of each soldered to the outer surface ofthe sleeve 80. The spacing of the sleeve 80 from the tube 43 and theinsulating character of the body 30 preclude sparking between the sleeveand tube.

A fully assembled ignition device embodying the invention includes onecoupler 11 for each spark plug lead of the ignition system of the enginewith the conductive sleeves 80 of the several couplers of the ignitiondevice being electrically interconnected in series by the conductor 12.In the particular ignition device 10 illustrated in FIG. I, for a fourcylinder engine, four couplers 11 are interconnected by a singleconductor 12. The four couplers are interconnected by a length ofconductor 12 measured to properly space the four couplers to fit thesockets 13 on the head of the distributor 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Theinsulation is stripped at three spaced locations along the length of theconductor 12 to provide bare wire at such locations such as representedby the stripped conductor portion 12b in FIG. 4. Also, a length of eachof the free ends of the conductor 12 is stripped of insulation so thatat the coupler at which the ends terminate and come together, they maybe laid into the annular space 63 of the coupler in the relationshipshown in FIG. 4 with the bare ends of the stripped conductor beingbrought together approximately at the midpoint between the spaced slot81 along the sleeve 80 in the coupler. The other three couplers will, ofcourse, each be connected with a continuous bare section 12b of theconductor as in FIG. 4 so that the completely assembled ignition device10 includes four circumferentially spaced couplers 11 with the ends ofthe conductor 12 being brought together in one of the couplers and theconductor 12 continuing through the other three couplers as in FIG. 4.

The conductor 12 may be inserted through the coupler in severaldifferent ways. For example, after the socket 44 and the tubing 43 areassembled in the body 30 of the coupler, the sleeve 80 may be placed onthe central body portion 32. The conductor 12 with its strippedinsulation portion 12b may be formed into an arcuate shape as in FIG. 4and laid in place within the upper end portion of the skirt 51 with theinsulation strip portion disposed across the skirt as shown in FIG. 4.The body 30 of the coupler is then inserted through the sleeve 80 intothe skirt 51. Alternatively, the sleeve 80 is placed on the body portion32 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and the stripped conductor portion12b is wrapped partially around the sleeve 80 as in FIGS. 2 and 4 andheld against the sleeve as the body 30 is inserted through the skirtuntil the stop shoulder 41 at the lower end of the body portion 32engages the internal stop shoulder 55 within the skirt. The bareconductor portion 12b is wedged into the skirt portion 60 to the tightlyfitting relationship represented in FIG. 4. The sizing of the slots 81may be such that when the body portion 30 of the coupler is forced intothe skirt, the bottom end surface 40 of the head 31 of the coupler bodywill tightly engage the segments of the insulation on the conductor 12at the opposite ends of the bare portion 12b to further tightly clampthe conductor in the coupler. The clip 45 is then assembled on the lowerend portion of the coupler body by inserting the straight portion 45a ofthe clip upwardly into the bore of the tube 43 with the crooked portion45 of the clip sliding upwardly along the outer surface of the couplerbody until the hooked end portion 450 engages the hole 50. If desired,the clip may be soldered to the tube 43 at a point designated 45d inFIG. 3 at the entry of the straight portion of the clip into the bore ofthe tube.

Any desired number of identical coupler units 11 may be so electricallyand physically interconnected to provide an ignition device embodyingthe invention for an engine of any selected number of cylinders. Ifdesired, the several couplers may be interconnected by a conductor 12which is not in the closed loop form but rather is a single strip ofwire having two free ends. In such a modified assembly a coupler 11 issecured as described at each free end of the conductor and the othercouplers of the assembly spaced apart along the length of the conductorbetween the two end couplers. In such an arrangement the couplers stillare electrically connected in series as in the form of FIG. 1.

The completely assembled ignition device is installed in the ignitionsystem of an internal combustion engine by steps suggested in theexploded perspective view of FIG. 1. The spark plug and ignition coilleads are removed from the head of the distributor 14 by pulling thespark plug lead connectors 23 from the sockets l3 and the connector 21of the ignition coil lead 20 from the socket 15. The ignition device 10is then held above the distributor in the relationship shown in FIG. 1with each of the couplers 11 being installed on a socket 13 of thedistributor head as shown in FIG. 3. Each coupler is held and manuallyplaced over the distributor head socket to the position shown in FIG. 3with the lower end portion of the coupler body with the clip 45 beinginserted into the conductive female socket 13a of the distributor headsocket 13. As shown in FIG. 3 the clip 45 is contoured to conform to apor tion of the inner surface of the socket 13a to aid in holding thecoupler on the socket. The hook 450 on the clip resiliently engages thelocking recess 13b of the socket 13a. The gripping action of the ribs 70aid in holding the coupler on the socket. The couplers 11 aresequentially installed on the sockets of the distributor head until theignition device is securely connected with and supported on thedistributor head. The spark plug leads are then connected into theproper couplers 11 in the same order in which they previously had beenconnected into the sockets 13 of the distributor head. The maleconnector 23 of each spark plug lead is inserted into the position shownin FIG. 3 within the socket 44 of each coupler. The coil lead 20 is thenreconnected with the distributor socket to provide energy from the sparkcoil to the distributor.

If the nonclosed loop or straight string arrangement of the assembly ofcouplers is used, the coil lead is not removed during installation ofthe device. The spark plug leads are removed, the couplers are installedin the distributor head around the coil lead, and the spark plug leadsare inserted into the couplers.

With the ignition device so connected between and electrically couplingthe spark plug leads with the distributor, as the distributorsequentially energizes the spark plug leads, the ignition device isactivated functioning to transmit a nonigniting electrical conditionfrom each energized spark plug lead to the nonenergized spark plug leadsand thence to the nonfiring cylinders of the engine. The distributorenergizes a selected socket 13. An electrical potential is applied fromthe female socket 13a through the conductive clip 45 and the conductivetube 43 to the female socket 44 of the coupler 11. The potential isapplied to the male connector 23 of the spark plug lead and through suchlead to the spark plug of the cylinder to be fired. As the current flowsthrough the tube 43 of the coupler 11 to energize the spark plug lead,an electrical field is effected in the vicinity of the tube 43 inducinga potential on the conductive sleeve 80 surrounding and electricallyinsulated from the tube 43. The character of and the thickness of thematerial comprising the central body portion 32 of the coupler is suchthat the potential on the tube 43 does not effect a spark between thetube and the sleeve 80. Also, of course, the character of the materialcomprising the dielectric along the body portion 32 must be such thatthe electrical condition between the tube 43 and the sleeve 80 will noteffect breakdown of the material. The potential induced in the sleeve 80is conducted to the insulation bare conductor portion 12b and throughsuch conductor to the serially connected other couplers 11 in thesystem. The sleeves 80 in the couplers ll connected with thenonenergized distributor sockets 13 are thus raised to the potential ofthe sleeve surrounding the energized coupler. The electrical potentialof the sleeves 80 of the nonenergized couplers induces an electricalcondition in the conductive tubes 43 through such nonenergized couplerswhich condition is then conducted through the spark plug leads to theplugs of the nonfiring cylinders resulting in nonigniting emissions fromsuch nonfiring plugs. These nonignitingv ignitions condition the chargeand atmosphere within the nonfiring cylinders to enhance the combustionprocess in such cylinders when each of the spark plugs in suchcylindersare subsequently ignited to effect combustion of such charges. Theengine operates in routine fashion with the spark plugs beingsequentially fired and the ignition device 10 effecting the desiredcondition in each of the nonigniting cylinders as each spark plug leadis sequentially energized.

The numerous previously discussed beneficial effects are obtained,including improved acceleration, increased gas mileage, quickerstarting, cleaner operating parts within the engine, and mostimportantly, a substantially reduced discharge of contaminants from theengine due to the improved combustion process. Analyses of exhaust gasesfrom automobile engines operating under normal conditions under theinfluence of the ignition device of the invention have demonstrated an84.9 percent decrease in hydrocarbons heavier than methane in oneinstance and in another instance a percent decrease in suchhydrocarbons. In the same tests, the methane measured in such exhaustgases showed a 35.82 percent decrease in the first instance and 100percent decrease in the second example. In similar tests on theautomobile engines, a full second reduction in acceleration time fromzero to speeds of 60 miles per hour were measured. Also, an increase inidle speed of up to 200 r.p.m. was found in an engine with the additionof the ignition device without any engine adjustments. Gas mileageincreases were found to range up to 20 to 30 percent. The device isreadily installed without the use of special tools, and, due totheabsence of moving parts and the protection provided the conductors inthe device, essentially no deterioration occurs during its operation.Due to the nature of the construction of the device and the manner inwhich its several couplers are interconnected by the conductor 12, it isreadily assembled to function with an engine of any number of cylinderswithout the necessity of manufacturing and stocking varieties of partsizes and kinds. The uniformity of spark plug lead connections anddistributor heads permits the use of a uniform-type coupler with onlythe numbers of couplers being varied to accommodate the device tovarious engines.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent 1. Anignition device for improving the combustion process in the combustionchambers of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine havingelectrical conductors connected between a distributor and the spark plugof each cylinder of said engine, said device comprising: an electricallyconductive sleeve supported in electrically insulated relationshiparound each of said electrical conductors forming one plate of acondenser for each conductor of said engine for inducing an electricalpotential in each of said sleeves responsive to current flow in theelectrical conductor through said sleeve; and electrical conductor meansinterconnecting said sleeves together in parallel whereby each of saidplates of the individual condensers formed for each electrical conductorare simultaneously energized responsive to current flow through theelectrical conductor passing through any one of said sleeves.

2. An ignition device for conditioning the combustion chambers ofinternal combustion engines comprising: a plurality of seriallyinterconnected couplers for electrically connecting the spark plug leadsof said engine with the head of the distributor of said engine, each ofsaid couplers including first conductive means for connecting saidcoupler into a socket of said distributor head, second conductive meansspaced therefrom for connection of a spark plug lead with said coupler,an electrical conductor connected between said first and said secondcoupling means, an electrically conductive sleeve disposed in spacedelectrically insulated relationship around said conductor between saidfirst and second coupling means, an electrical conductor extendingbetween said couplers serially interconnecting said sleeves of saidcouplers whereby an electrical potential is induced in one of saidsleeves of said couplers responsive to electric current flowing throughsaid conductor between said first and second coupling means of saidcoupler, said potential is conducted to the sleeves of the remainingcouplers of said ignition device effecting a change of electricalconditions in the nonfiring combustion chambers of said engine by meansof said spark plugs in said chambers,

3. An ignition device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sleeve issplit having a gap therein between opposite free ends and said sleeveencompasses a major circumferential portion of said coupler around saidconductor through said coupler between said first and second couplingmeans.

4. An ignition device in accordance with claim 2 wherein in each of saidcouplers said first conductive means comprises a male connector adaptedto be inserted into a spark plug receptacle of said distributor head andsaid second conductive means comprises a female receptacle for receivingthe male connector of a spark plug lead.

5. An ignition device for preconditioning a fuel charge in an internalcombustion engine for improving the combustion process in the combustionchambers of said engine comprising: a plurality of seriallyinterconnected electrically conductive couplers for connecting sparkplug leads of said engine into the head of the distributor of saidengine, each of said couplers comprising an elongate, tubular bodymandrel formed of an electrically insulating material, an electricallyconductive female socket disposed in an opening at one end of said bodymandrel for receiving the male connector of a spark plug lead, anelongate electrical conductor disposed through said body mandrel fromsaid female socket member to a second end of said body mandrel, anelectrically conductive connector secured on said second end of saidbody mandrel in electrically conductive relationship with said conductorthrough said body mandrel, said second end of said body mandrel and saidconnector comprising a male connection on said coupler for insertioninto a female spark plug lead socket on a distributor head, anelectrically conductive sleeve disposed in electrically insulated spacedrelationship around said body mandrel encompassing said conductorthrough said body mandrel and within an electrical field generatedaround said conductor when said conductor is energized, a tubular skirtof electrically insulating material disposed on said body mandrel aroundand in spaced relationship from said second male end portion of saidbody mandrel for fitting over and gripping a said socket member of saiddistributor head, and an electrical conductor serially interconnectingsaid conductive sleeves of said couplers of said ignition device, saidconductor having a portion thereof disposed through said skirt of eachof said couplers and clamped in electrically conducting relationshipwith said sleeve of said coupler whereby electrical energy passingthrough one of said couplers from said distributor to a spark plug leadconnected thereto induces an electrical condition in said sleeve of saidcoupler, said electrical condition being communicated to the sleeves ofthe other couplers of said ignition device for communication to thespark plugs of the nonfiring cylinders of said engine.

6. An ignition device as defined in claim 5 wherein said sleeve is asplit sleeve encompassing a major circumferential portion of saidconductor through each of said couplers.

7. An ignition device as defined in claim 6 wherein said conductivecoupling means on said male portion of said body mandrel of said coupleris a clip having a portion electrically connected with said conductorthrough said body mandrel and a portion engageable in the female socketof the socket connector of said distributor head of said engine whensaid device is installed on said engine.

8. An Ignition device as defined in claim 7 wherein said con-

1. An ignition device for improving the combustion process in thecombustion chambers of the cylinders of an internal combustion enginehaving electrical conductors connected between a distributor and thespark plug of each cylinder of said engine, said device comprising: anelectrically conductive sleeve supported in electrically insulatedrelationship around each of said electrical conductors forming one plateof a condenser for each conductor of said engine for inducing anelectrical potential in each of said sleeves responsive to current flowin the electrical conductor through said sleeve; and electricalconductor means interconnecting said sleeves together in parallelwhereby each of said plates of the individual condensers formed for eachelectrical conductor are simultaneously energized responsive to currentflow through the electrical conductor passing through any one of saidsleeves.
 2. An ignition device for conditioning the combustion chambersof internal combustion engines comprising: a plurality of seriallyinterconnected couplers for electrically connecting the spark plug leadsof said engine with the head of the distributor of said engine, each ofsaid couplers including first conductive means for connecting saidcoupler into a socket of said distributor head, second conductive meansspaced therefrom for connection of a spark plug lead with said coupler,an electrical conductor connected between said first and said secondcoupling means, an electrically conductive sleeve disposed in spacedelectrically insulated relationship around said conductor between saidfirst and second coupling meanS, an electrical conductor extendingbetween said couplers serially interconnecting said sleeves of saidcouplers whereby an electrical potential is induced in one of saidsleeves of said couplers responsive to electric current flowing throughsaid conductor between said first and second coupling means of saidcoupler, said potential is conducted to the sleeves of the remainingcouplers of said ignition device effecting a change of electricalconditions in the nonfiring combustion chambers of said engine by meansof said spark plugs in said chambers.
 3. An ignition device inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said sleeve is split having a gaptherein between opposite free ends and said sleeve encompasses a majorcircumferential portion of said coupler around said conductor throughsaid coupler between said first and second coupling means.
 4. Anignition device in accordance with claim 2 wherein in each of saidcouplers said first conductive means comprises a male connector adaptedto be inserted into a spark plug receptacle of said distributor head andsaid second conductive means comprises a female receptacle for receivingthe male connector of a spark plug lead.
 5. An ignition device forpreconditioning a fuel charge in an internal combustion engine forimproving the combustion process in the combustion chambers of saidengine comprising: a plurality of serially interconnected electricallyconductive couplers for connecting spark plug leads of said engine intothe head of the distributor of said engine, each of said couplerscomprising an elongate, tubular body mandrel formed of an electricallyinsulating material, an electrically conductive female socket disposedin an opening at one end of said body mandrel for receiving the maleconnector of a spark plug lead, an elongate electrical conductordisposed through said body mandrel from said female socket member to asecond end of said body mandrel, an electrically conductive connectorsecured on said second end of said body mandrel in electricallyconductive relationship with said conductor through said body mandrel,said second end of said body mandrel and said connector comprising amale connection on said coupler for insertion into a female spark pluglead socket on a distributor head, an electrically conductive sleevedisposed in electrically insulated spaced relationship around said bodymandrel encompassing said conductor through said body mandrel and withinan electrical field generated around said conductor when said conductoris energized, a tubular skirt of electrically insulating materialdisposed on said body mandrel around and in spaced relationship fromsaid second male end portion of said body mandrel for fitting over andgripping a said socket member of said distributor head, and anelectrical conductor serially interconnecting said conductive sleeves ofsaid couplers of said ignition device, said conductor having a portionthereof disposed through said skirt of each of said couplers and clampedin electrically conducting relationship with said sleeve of said couplerwhereby electrical energy passing through one of said couplers from saiddistributor to a spark plug lead connected thereto induces an electricalcondition in said sleeve of said coupler, said electrical conditionbeing communicated to the sleeves of the other couplers of said ignitiondevice for communication to the spark plugs of the nonfiring cylindersof said engine.
 6. An ignition device as defined in claim 5 wherein saidsleeve is a split sleeve encompassing a major circumferential portion ofsaid conductor through each of said couplers.
 7. An ignition device asdefined in claim 6 wherein said conductive coupling means on said maleportion of said body mandrel of said coupler is a clip having a portionelectrically connected with said conductor through said body mandrel anda portion engageable in the female socket of the socket connector ofsaid distributor head of said engine when said device is installed onsaid engine.
 8. An ignition device as defined in claim 7 wherein saidconductor between said sleeves of said couplers has an insulation bareportion therein at each of said couplers clamped within said coupleraround said sleeve by said skirt of said coupler.